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Obama drinks filtered water in Flint

Posted at 2:49 PM, May 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-04 15:04:20-04

US President Barack Obama drinks filtered water in this combo photo during a meeting at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, Michigan, May 4, 2016. (Photo credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — President Barack Obama has taken a drink of the filtered water in Flint, Michigan.

Obama is visiting the city for the first time since its drinking water became contaminated with lead.

After a briefing Wednesday on the federal government’s response to the crisis, the president took a drink of filtered water.

Officials have been assuring still skeptical residents that filtered tap water is now safe to drink. Obama said he normally doesn’t engage in stunts, but said he took a swig of the filtered water to show it’s safe.

The Michigan Senate earlier Wednesday approved spending another $128 million to address the crisis, marking the fourth round of funding being considered by state lawmakers since the health disaster was confirmed seven months ago.